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Professional counselling and psychodynamic therapy in East London and North London with a qualified, BACP-registered counsellor. Supporting individuals seeking therapy in London for a range of personal and emotional challenges

Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, and protected when you visit www.therapywithmattia.co.uk or engage with my therapeutic counselling services. Your privacy is respected and protected at all times. I will never share your personal information without your explicit consent, except where required by law.

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All personal data is managed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

What Is Personal Information?

Personal information is any data that can be used to identify a living individual—such as your name, address, phone number, email address, or IP address. Under the GDPR, special category data (e.g., health-related information) is considered more sensitive and requires additional protection.

What Data I Collect and Why

a. Website Analytics

When you visit my website, a standard analytics tool may automatically log:

  • Your IP address

  • Device type (desktop or mobile)

  • Browser type and version

  • Operating system and screen size

  • Pages visited and general location data

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This helps me understand how people use my website and allows me to improve its structure and usability.

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b. Cookies

This website uses WordPress statistics, a third-party service, which places cookies on your browser. Cookies are small text files that help anonymously track your visit and interaction with the website. These are only used for site performance and analytics—no personal identification is involved.

 

c. Contact Forms

If you contact me using a form on this site, I may collect your name, email address, and any other details you choose to provide. This information is held securely and used only for the purposes of responding to your enquiry. It will never be shared or sold.

Information for Therapeutic Counselling Clients

a. Before Therapy

When we first speak, I may ask for basic information to assess whether I can offer you therapeutic counselling.

 

This might include:

  • Name and contact details

  • Availability and general concerns or symptoms

 

b. During Therapy

Once we begin working together, I may collect and store more detailed personal information, such as:

  • Goals for therapy

  • GP contact details

  • Health and mental health history

  • Current medications

  • Family and support structure

  • Lifestyle information (e.g., sleep, diet, substance use)

  • Other relevant psychological or biographical data

This information enables me to provide safe and effective therapeutic counselling tailored to your needs.

 

c. Special Category Information

In line with GDPR Article 9, I may need to collect sensitive data (such as mental health status) if it is necessary for the delivery of therapeutic counselling services. This data is collected with your knowledge and handled with the highest level of confidentiality and care.

How Your Data Is Stored

Your data is stored securely in both digital and physical formats:

  • Electronically: On password- and/or fingerprint-protected devices, with files encrypted or additionally password-protected.

  • Physically: Paper records are stored in locked cabinets.

  • Identifying information (e.g. name and contact details) is kept separately from clinical notes whenever possible.

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Access to all data is restricted to me as your therapist.

How Long Your Data Is Retained

I keep personal information for at least seven years after the end of therapy, in accordance with legal, professional, and insurance requirements. In some cases, records may be kept longer if needed for legal defence or compliance.

Who Your Information May Be Shared With

Your information is confidential and will not be shared without your permission, except under specific circumstances such as:

  • Serious risk of harm to yourself or others

  • Legal obligations (e.g., court order)

  • Professional supervision (where your identity is protected)

Your Rights

a. Access to Your Information

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data I hold about you. This is called a Subject Access Request. Please write to me at:
therapywithmattia@gmail.com
I will respond within one month. An administrative fee may apply depending on the request.

 

b. Right to Erasure

You can request that your personal information be deleted. I will respond within one month but may need to retain some information for legal or professional reasons (e.g., to comply with insurance or legal obligations).

 

c. Right to Object or Complain

If you are unhappy with how your information is handled, please contact me directly. If you're still not satisfied, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at 0303 123 1113 or visit https://ico.org.uk/concerns.

Updates to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. Please revisit this page periodically to ensure you're informed about how your data is managed.

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